A Refuge Assured

by Jocelyn Green

Vivienne Rivard fled revolutionary France and seeks a new life for herself and a boy in her care, who some say is the Dauphin. But America is far from safe, as militiaman Liam Delaney knows. He proudly served in the American Revolution but is less sure of his role in the Whiskey Rebellion. Drawn together, will Liam and Vivienne find the peace they long for?

A Refuge Assured Review

January 1, 1970

Jocelyn Green

And when I say I have "read" this book... I can't even tell you how many times I've read it. About eighty-five (it feels like), making lots of changes every time. Just one more pass through the galleys though, and then it's out of my hands!

January 1, 1970

Deanne Patterson

Based on Jocelyn Green writing my favorite Civil War series I knew I was in for a treat reading this and believe me it did not disappoint. The author writes novels steeped in historical detail so well you will believe you are there with the characters experiencing it, from the descriptions to the sights,sounds,smells and even the characters thoughts.The book starts out in late 1700s Paris, France and gives readers a feel of the French Revolution and sets us up with the main character's backgroun Based on Jocelyn Green writing my favorite Civil War series I knew I was in for a treat reading this and believe me it did not disappoint. The author writes novels steeped in historical detail so well you will believe you are there with the characters experiencing it, from the descriptions to the sights,sounds,smells and even the characters thoughts.The book starts out in late 1700s Paris, France and gives readers a feel of the French Revolution and sets us up with the main character's background from lace making to the story of her mother.I was especially fascinated to read how the majority of the story took place in my home state of Pennsylvania,it took place in Philadelphia to be exact. I even found out the Pittsburgh Post Gazette newspaper used to be called the Pittsburgh Gazette when it first started out. It's so fascinating the historical facts you can find out with some research and I appreciate the author doing just this.This book held my attention firmly gripped and it won't be soon forgotten.I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to her next book.I received a review copy from the author and was not required to write a positive review.

About this book:“Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility, and those associated with them, are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia but finds the same dangers lurking in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers threaten the life of a young boy left in her care, who some suspect to be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement, Azilum, offer permanent refuge? Militiama About this book:“Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility, and those associated with them, are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia but finds the same dangers lurking in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers threaten the life of a young boy left in her care, who some suspect to be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement, Azilum, offer permanent refuge? Militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate the land of his hard-won farm near Azilum, but soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman recently arrived from Paris, they will be drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.”Series: As of now, no. Spiritual Content- Psalm 142:5 at the beginning; Scriptures are quoted & remembered; Prayers; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, services, & priests; Mentions of Christmas; Mentions of Providence; Mentions of Quakers; Mentions of sins; Mentions of Paulette not believing in God or an afterlife, but she later wonders about forgiveness; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of faiths; A few mentions of Heaven; A mention of the birth of Christ; A mention of Godspeed; A mention of a miracle; A mention of crossing oneself; *Note: A couple mentions of ghosts; A mention of being ‘damned’; A mention of a talisman; A mention of a hex. Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, a ‘stupid’, two ‘shut up’s, three ‘hang it all’s, and six forms of ‘blast’; Mentions of curses (said, not written, including one by Liam and one by Paulette); Trying to kill a child four times (semi-detailed, not successful); A fire, smoke, & explosion (semi-detailed); Being shot (x2), hit, blood/bleeding, & passing out (semi-detailed); Being nearly strangled & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Being attacked/thrown glass and manure at (up to semi-detailed); Being pushes in a busy street & nearly ran-over (up to semi-detailed); Injuries, Pain, Blood/Bleeding, & Being Tarred (barely-above-not-detailed); Stitching someone up (up to semi-detailed); Drinking wine at dinner; Smelling hard liquor & watching others drink (up to semi-detailed); A young boy is given alcohol & gets drunk (barely-above-not-detailed); Nightmares (up to semi-detailed); Set during revolutions (semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of murders, beheadings, guillotines, those soon-to-be executed, & those in favor of it (semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of wars, revolutions, rebels, violence, & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of dead bodies, ligaments from those bodies on pikes, blood/bleeding, & horror (semi-detailed); Many mentions of pain, injuries/wounds, beatings, being shot, blood/bleeding, stitches, scars, & screams (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of alcohol/wine, drinking, drunks, & taverns/bars; Mentions of a murder (semi-detailed); Mentions of a plan to kill a child; Mentions of people being burned alive; Mentions of fighting, hitting/slapping, gunshots/bullets, & massacres; Mentions of hangings & being hung; Mentions of tarring & feathering others (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of crimes; Mentions of illnesses, symptoms, vomit, vomiting, & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of slavery, deaths, & slaves killing their masters (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of young boys that died (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of threats & abuse (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of arrests, imprisonment, & prisons/jails; Mentions of debts; Mentions of fires & smoke; Mentions of an attempted kidnapping; Mentions of hatred, prejudice, & revenge; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of cigars, pipes, tobacco, & smoke; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a young girl watching her parents die; A few mentions of thieves & stealing; A few mentions of animal manure; A couple mentions of a bully & getting a black eye; A couple mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of frostbitten toes being amputated; A couple mentions of using the bathroom outside (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of sarcasm.Sexual Content- a hand kiss, a semi-detailed wrist kiss, a cheek kiss, a head kiss, a not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss, a forced boarder-line semi-detailed // detailed kiss, and detailed kisses; Touches, Dancing, Embraces, & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Unwanted Touches & Suggestions (up to semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); A man tries to get Vivienne to be his (she assumes) new mistress (she will not); a ‘whore’; Mentions of a fourteen year old maid being impregnated by the master of the house & forced to have an abortion (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of Vivienne being illegitimate child & her mother being a courtesan/mistress, also entertaining her lovers, and being faithful; Mentions of adultery, adulterers, & affairs; Mentions of courtesans & mistresses; Mentions of kisses & kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of chaperones, virtue, & scandals; A few mentions of a young, unmarried woman being pregnant & wanting a rushed wedding; A few mentions of a man wanting to leave his wife for another woman; A couple mentions of unwanted advances; A mention of blushing & longing over the thought of having babies; Love, falling in love, & the emotions; *Note: A few mentions of the butt of a gun; A mention of a low-cut neckline; A mention of a woman’s too small shirt; A mention of a man’s muscles (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of kicking someone’s groin. -Vivienne “Vienne” Rivard, age 28-29-William “Liam” Delaney, age 38-39 P.O.V. switches between them, Paulette (9x), & Henri (6x) Set in 1794-1795 (Prologue set in 1792, Epilogue in 1802) 413 pages~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Pre Teens- One StarNew Teens- One StarEarly High School Teens- One Star Older High School Teens- One Star My personal Rating- One StarI always have a “catch-22 dilemma” when have to read and rate historical book set during or around wars.I hate the unjustness of those time periods. It honestly makes me dislike history so much and feel sick to my stomach.But, because I do content reviews, whether historical facts or not, those parts are held up to the Philippians 4:8 standard of this blog. And to be honest, a lot of history isn’t so lovely. So, while, yes, historical can be awful, terrible, and horrible, I must be honest and give ratings based on how the author writes the details of those parts and how it’s handled. See what I mean about a catch-22?Unfortunately, “A Refuge Assured” has this case. ----Agree or disagree with what I’ve said or these ratings, Books for Christian Girls has a duty to stand by our values, list out the content in every book, and give whatever ratings we feel are necessary. ----For our actual final thoughts:Being my first book by this author, the prologue had me wondering what in the world did I just get myself into. The blood, murders, and gore were too much for myself. For Vivienne, while I sympathized with her situation and I liked her drive to handle things, there was something about her personality that I felt clashed with my own. I can’t really put into words what felt off, but there was something.Liam, well, Liam. It felt like it was forever until we met him. In actuality, it was only 57 pages. But, that’s still quite a while for a normal length book. This one was just over 400 pages and while the romance section really didn’t happen until the last 100 pages or so, there was quite a bit in that area. The Spiritual Content was a decent amount for a book this long, but I would have preferred more discussions and such. Will I ever try out this author again, though? We’ll have to see. ----Personally, I further confirmed two things while reading this book:1.) One of my least favorite time periods is the 1700s and you couldn’t pay me to live in that time period. and 2.) I never want to be in politics. Ever. Link to review:https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp... *BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House) for this honest review.

I'm pretty sure that met all my high expectations. And exceeded them in some ways. This book was just so beautiful, and I will definitely be reading more by this talented author!The characters. Just wow! The MCs, Vivienne and Liam, both had such depth, and were such real, relatable characters. I loved Vienne's willingness to serve others and provide for herself and others, yet it wasn't in a feministic way. And Liam . . . he was such a gentleman, and his struggles with right\wrong in regards to I'm pretty sure that met all my high expectations. And exceeded them in some ways. This book was just so beautiful, and I will definitely be reading more by this talented author!The characters. Just wow! The MCs, Vivienne and Liam, both had such depth, and were such real, relatable characters. I loved Vienne's willingness to serve others and provide for herself and others, yet it wasn't in a feministic way. And Liam . . . he was such a gentleman, and his struggles with right\wrong in regards to freedom and the Revolution . . . so good! Henri was also adorable! The first scene in his POV threw me off a bit, but I actually really liked getting into his head and hearing his perspective. The supporting cast was also fabulous.The writing. My word! I absolutely fell in love with Green's beautiful writing style. Her descriptions were so vivid and had me feeling like I was living in the story, yet they weren't overly wordy. The story. So so good! Initially it took me a little bit to get interested, but after a few chapters, things really started picking up and I couldn't put it down. The comparisons between the American and the French Revolutions were so fascinating and enlightening. I feel like the time period and setting this book is written in (1790s America) is not touched upon a whole lot in fiction, so it just made it all the more fascinating. I loved the amount of rich history Green throws into the story. I love learning something new while reading fiction, and Green kept the history far from dry or boring. The romance. *happy sigh* So beautiful! This is exactly the kind of romance I love to read - slow, sweet, and beautiful. I really don't have much to complain about with this story, but if I were to mention one thing, it would be the dialogue. It felt slightly too modern for the time period at times, but not terribly so. All in all, I absolutely loved A Refuge Assured, it is definitely getting a place of honor on my bookshelf! Highly recommended, especially if you love beautiful historical romance. One more note: That cover is swoon-worthy gorgeous! You definitely need to get a paperback copy if you read this book! <33CONTENT NOTE: I would recommend this for ages 16+ for descriptions of violence and adult themes. (view spoiler)[During the beginning, there are some descriptions of violence pertaining to the French Revolution that were pretty graphic. I skimmed over most of them. Also, Vivienne's mother is a prostitute, and had Vivienne out of wedlock. There are mentions pertaining to that, and her mother suggests Vivienne become a courtesan as well at a point. Also a few semi-detailed kisses.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

A Refuge Assured is full of historical detail. The beginning of the novel is set in late 1700s Paris, France providing readers with the feel of the French Revolution and background for main character Vivienne Rivard. The majority of the novel, however, takes place in Philadelphia.While Vivienne is the main focus, there is another compelling story line as well. To share more about that would be a spoiler.I close the novel feeling I've visited both Paris and Philadelphia during such a tumultuous t A Refuge Assured is full of historical detail. The beginning of the novel is set in late 1700s Paris, France providing readers with the feel of the French Revolution and background for main character Vivienne Rivard. The majority of the novel, however, takes place in Philadelphia.While Vivienne is the main focus, there is another compelling story line as well. To share more about that would be a spoiler.I close the novel feeling I've visited both Paris and Philadelphia during such a tumultuous time period. Jocelyn does an excellent job of providing readers with visuals, smells and feelings for locations. My only frustration and it was minor was the use of both Vienne and Vivienne. However, I got used to the switch between the two and was not distracted by it after a couple of chapters.Overall, this is another fabulous historical novel penned by Jocelyn Green. It is clear she puts a great deal of research into her work. This reader definitely appreciates that.My gratitude to publisher Bethany House for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.

A Refuge Assured is hands down one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I loved every element of this story. The characters are endearing and distinct, the plot moves at a perfect pace, and the historical details just make everything come to life.Vivienne has already been through so much heartache when she arrives in Philadelphia from Paris. I loved getting a glimpse of her life in Paris, as it really set the stage for what was to come, as well as helping the reader to understand what Vivien A Refuge Assured is hands down one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I loved every element of this story. The characters are endearing and distinct, the plot moves at a perfect pace, and the historical details just make everything come to life.Vivienne has already been through so much heartache when she arrives in Philadelphia from Paris. I loved getting a glimpse of her life in Paris, as it really set the stage for what was to come, as well as helping the reader to understand what Vivienne and many other French citizens lost as consequence of the French Revolution. Already in the opening scenes Vivienne's emotion as well as moments of suspense leap off of the page. The making of beautiful and delicate lace, what had once been a livelihood for Vivienne became a mark against her, so much so that she had no choice but the flee to what she believes is a safe haven in America. Of course, tensions still run high there, with Royalist plots, as well as the infamous Whiskey Rebellion, about which I knew very little.Wonderful secondary characters abound, and, of course, some scoundrels, too. Liam Delaney is one of the more realistic male leads that I've read about in a while. Green isn't afraid to have her characters make mistakes and get messy as they navigate tricky and dangerous situations. All the while, though, Liam maintains his honor and tries to do what is right. I also appreciate a slow burning romance, one that takes work and time, one that makes you cheer when things are going their way.A Refuge Assured is definitely my favorite book by Jocelyn Green that I've read so far, and I'm so glad that her next novel is already in the works. With a well-rounded plot and wonderfully engaging characters, A Refuge Assured will please fans of realistic historical fiction.

From France to Pennsylvania your life is in danger because you make lace? This is brought about because of a frenzy of people who hate the monarchy, and will go to extremes to get rid of all chances that it will return to power, killing young children, and innocents.With a heavy heart the author has brought our lacemaker Vivienne Rivard actually running for her life, and puts in her path a young mother and child that will forever change her, and a hurt American Revolutionary, and Irishman, Liam From France to Pennsylvania your life is in danger because you make lace? This is brought about because of a frenzy of people who hate the monarchy, and will go to extremes to get rid of all chances that it will return to power, killing young children, and innocents.With a heavy heart the author has brought our lacemaker Vivienne Rivard actually running for her life, and puts in her path a young mother and child that will forever change her, and a hurt American Revolutionary, and Irishman, Liam Delaney. Soon I was googling for information about the happenings of the French Revolution and the child King.We watch with horror as injustice seems to follow our hero across the ocean, and we cringe when those we admire through history are responsible for doing some of these same things that brought them to the War of Independence. We learn that some we trust cannot be trusted, and what they do is beyond my imagination.A historical story that is full of information that I did not know, and once started I could not put it down. Enjoy!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

A lusciously detailed story of a young woman who escapes the French Revolution by the skin of her teeth and finds herself in many more challenges fitting into her new life in America than she had dreamed of facing. Most of the stories I have read about Revolutionary survivors have them going to England or Holland or Italy. Going to America is a nearly-new one for me...this is only the second one I’ve read. Combine Vivienne’s experiences with Liam and the Whiskey Rebellion, and there’s yet more t A lusciously detailed story of a young woman who escapes the French Revolution by the skin of her teeth and finds herself in many more challenges fitting into her new life in America than she had dreamed of facing. Most of the stories I have read about Revolutionary survivors have them going to England or Holland or Italy. Going to America is a nearly-new one for me...this is only the second one I’ve read. Combine Vivienne’s experiences with Liam and the Whiskey Rebellion, and there’s yet more to learn. It’s a colorful and interesting story, with a hefty dash of suspense, and is a very enjoyable read.One thing that rather jumped out at me was that lots in Asylum were said to be a half-acre plot, but Liam’s farm is very obviously larger than that. I felt like something was missing there. Another thing that sounded funny was that a guy was surprised in the middle of the night and ran out shirtless—the average guy of the times would wear a nightshirt.Content: some striking details of violence, a kiss that lasts an entire page, and mentions of someone being nakedLanguage: frequent “blast”ingFaith content: very light; a few mentions of prayers, trusting God, and having faith

Jocelyn Green's superpower is taking a piece of history, researching every angle of it, and crafting a story set in that era so expertly that her readers feel that they've been placed right in the midst of the character's lives. Green has accomplished this in each of her novels. However, if required to pick my favorite of her books I wouldn't hesitate. It's A Refuge Assured.With breathtakingly beautiful prose, well rounded and fully realized characters, and a plot with enough intrigue to keep th Jocelyn Green's superpower is taking a piece of history, researching every angle of it, and crafting a story set in that era so expertly that her readers feel that they've been placed right in the midst of the character's lives. Green has accomplished this in each of her novels. However, if required to pick my favorite of her books I wouldn't hesitate. It's A Refuge Assured.With breathtakingly beautiful prose, well rounded and fully realized characters, and a plot with enough intrigue to keep the reading turning pages A Refuge Assured deserves every single accolade and glowing review. I highly recommend this book for history buffs, homeschool families (probably for high school and up), readers of Christian fiction, and anyone who just really loves a well crafted novel.

This book was so good! I loved watching Vivienne grow from the lacemaker to the queen into the independent American woman she became. I found this period of history rather fascinating. I don't read a lot of early American (Post-Revolution), so this particular period was rather new to me. I enjoyed it. I received a copy from Bethany House to review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been eagerly looking forward to reading this book. The combination of the French Revolution with the struggles of the early American government captured my attention and A Refuge Assured delivers and exceeds my expectations. The book is filled with historical detail, but it's never overwhelming. The plot is quick paced and interesting, and the characters will linger after the last page is closed. I enjoyed every word of this book and eagerly await her next one! I was provided a copy of I have been eagerly looking forward to reading this book. The combination of the French Revolution with the struggles of the early American government captured my attention and A Refuge Assured delivers and exceeds my expectations. The book is filled with historical detail, but it's never overwhelming. The plot is quick paced and interesting, and the characters will linger after the last page is closed. I enjoyed every word of this book and eagerly await her next one! I was provided a copy of this book. All opinions and my review are my own.

My rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.My Review:Wow. This book was intense! It took me a bit to read as I had a lot of things going on and this book was long by today’s standards for sure.Before I even get to the actual story itself though, THE COVER. It is probably one of the most beautiful covers I have seen in a long time. It is matte and gorgeous and even more beautiful than it’s online image when you have it in person. And then there’s the interior formatting. The lace decorating even the inside ma My rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.My Review:Wow. This book was intense! It took me a bit to read as I had a lot of things going on and this book was long by today’s standards for sure.Before I even get to the actual story itself though, THE COVER. It is probably one of the most beautiful covers I have seen in a long time. It is matte and gorgeous and even more beautiful than it’s online image when you have it in person. And then there’s the interior formatting. The lace decorating even the inside made this tale of a lace maker all the more interesting.Okay, back to the story. I was incredibly impressed. The story follows Vivienne Rivard from the streets of Paris where she is a lace maker, all the way to America, and across the years as she makes her home in the new country. The attention to details in this story were fantastic. You are never at a lack for information and they are so vivid, I could always see the scene and the surroundings with ease. Miss Green does a phenomenal job filling the book with these details, without losing the readers interest one bit. It doesn’t become bogged down or boring, simply more interesting. The writing style was reminiscent of an older style of book, and it worked so well with the time period.The characters. They were deep, complex, flawed and broken, yet full of beauty. Each one had a story to tell and I enjoyed finding more about each one as time went on. Motives, means, relationships and friendships were woven together and sometimes tangled to the point of confusion for the characters themselves, but great interest to the readers. As a reader, I could find myself relating to numerous characters, hating others, and rooting for the heroes and heroines. When a book elicits such strong feeling over the story, I know it’s a good one.The story and plot itself was so intriguing. From all of the historical details (of which I was fascinated) and the actual fictional story woven throughout, it was an incredible feat. Enough mystery and suspense are combined with everyday moments and affairs to keep you turning pages until the very end. The time period itself was a very interesting choice and not one I have read much on. It felt very much like Les Miserables mixed with the Scarlet Pimpernel at times and I was so in love with it. The French Revolution, the aftermath of the American Revolution, the Whiskey Rebellion, the French Asylum and so many more historical facts and events were told so grippingly. I learned so much about that time period.There was quite a bit of mystery surrounding the young Dauphin of France as well that kept me on my toes.If you love historical fiction in the least, you will find this story a must read! And if you enjoy books like the Scarlett Pimpernel or Les Miserables, you will definitely like this book.Content Advisory: (view spoiler)[ Vivienne is an illegitimate child and there is mentioning’s of that fact throughout the book, though no details are shown. There is quite a bit of mentioning of the fact that she was conceived out of wedlock throughout the book as she tries to forgive her father for being unfaithful. It comes up semi-frequently, though it is dealt with in a tasteful way. Aside from that, there was one or two kisses, but again, quite tasteful. (hide spoiler)]

A fascinating and beautifully told story about a part of history I was unfamiliar with. I loved the way Jocelyn cut out the characters' stories from the pages of history and I absolutely felt for them in their hardships. I also appreciated the author's honest exploration of freedom versus the need for order, both on an individual level and for that of one's country. So well-researched, so well done!

A Refuge Assured shines a light on a tumultuous time in American history as the new nation tried to decide what it would stand for. Jocelyn Green spins an enthralling story built on impeccable research, with fascinating characters. Historical fiction at its finest!

A Refuge Assured, written by Jocelyn Green, is another lovely read by this author. From the lace being made in France to the lace being made in a small refuge in Pensylvania, we are taken on a journey of words at the ends of our fingertips as each page turns to see, hear, and experience the trauma of the French Revolution that didn't cease when these French escaped to America. We also felt the deep relationships that were built, crushed, wished for, and sometimes saw them successful in not just A Refuge Assured, written by Jocelyn Green, is another lovely read by this author. From the lace being made in France to the lace being made in a small refuge in Pensylvania, we are taken on a journey of words at the ends of our fingertips as each page turns to see, hear, and experience the trauma of the French Revolution that didn't cease when these French escaped to America. We also felt the deep relationships that were built, crushed, wished for, and sometimes saw them successful in not just passion of country but of heart. From innocent children to grown adulterous men, we saw God's protection and plan worked out each step of the way.My favorite characters were Vivienne as she is the epitome of a strong courageous woman. And Liam...yep, just have to love him! He was a school teacher, turned militiaman, turned farmsteader... willing to help grow minds, grow crops, and of course, defend those who needed it most. He gave up so much and still was willing to give more. The exact man I'd want for my daughters! <3This is a heavy historical read with just the right amount of romance. It's not a light read. It is lovely in all aspects. It is truly inspirational in that God never gives up on people. Just like thread is on a bobbin waiting to be used for the queen's lace, so are we to be turned into what He wants us to become because of His great love for us. I was given an ARC by the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

What a delightful read this was! This is a beautiful historical book and one I definitely recommend reading. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The characters, setting, and the plot all fit so well together. I absolutely loved this authors writing style and the way she describes everything. This is definitely a new favorite for me. I have to say that one of my favorite parts of this book is the plot. It was so delightful! With the French people, war, lacemakers, noble heirs, I was drawn into t What a delightful read this was! This is a beautiful historical book and one I definitely recommend reading. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The characters, setting, and the plot all fit so well together. I absolutely loved this authors writing style and the way she describes everything. This is definitely a new favorite for me. I have to say that one of my favorite parts of this book is the plot. It was so delightful! With the French people, war, lacemakers, noble heirs, I was drawn into this book. New things kept coming left and right and it was all so intriguing. While I loved the beginning with being in Europe, I did find the book to be a little slow at the start. ( The reason for the star off ) It’s a big book though and I really enjoyed it once things started to take off. This is an amazing historical book and I definitely recommend that everyone get a copy! *I received a free copy in exchange of my honest review. All thoughts are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review*

4 StarsThis was really good! Not a time period I read about a lot, but really good! I was reallye excited to read it, since its my first book from Bethany House Blogger Review program. ~wonderfuls~ the charactersI really liked how Ms. Green had most of the main characters' perpectives throughout the book. Each of the characters had well-developed personalities. Henri was so sweet!the romanceThe romance in A Refuge Assured wasn't necessarily everywhere, which I liked. There were touches of romanc 4 StarsThis was really good! Not a time period I read about a lot, but really good! I was reallye excited to read it, since its my first book from Bethany House Blogger Review program. ~wonderfuls~
the charactersI really liked how Ms. Green had most of the main characters' perpectives throughout the book. Each of the characters had well-developed personalities. Henri was so sweet!the romanceThe romance in A Refuge Assured wasn't necessarily everywhere, which I liked. There were touches of romance throughout, but it wasn't just a romance.the time periodLike I mentioned, I don't read a lot during this time period. I've studied some on the French Revolution, but not a lot. I've barely read anything about the Whiskey Rebellion. This was really interesting, especially in that it followed a lacemaker's life. It's amazing to think that people were killed just for making lace for nobility. Also, seeing a vetran from the American Revolution's perpective on early America was interesting. ~not-so-wonderfuls~
too much going onA Refuge Assured was soo good, but I felt like occasionally there was too much going on. You had a French woman fleeing the French Revolution (plus the Jacobin/Henri's subplot thing), and a man sorta kinda for the Whiskey Rebellion (but his cousin, who's like his brother, is completely for it). Just too much at times. ~personal thoughts~
All in all, I really enjoyed A Refuge Assured, and I'm considering reading other books by Ms. Green!I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

He fought for revolution. She was outcasted because of revolution. Can they still find common ground?"Law and liberty. Order and freedom. It was all a tangled mess".A deluge. That's a perfect word to describe this book.The fight for liberty is for equality, freedom, justice. Or isn't it? If we stop and look at the costs can this truly be what was fought for?Vivienne Rivard and Liam Delaney were on different sides of revolutions oceans apart. Who would dream the influence one would have on the ot He fought for revolution. She was outcasted because of revolution. Can they still find common ground?"Law and liberty. Order and freedom. It was all a tangled mess".A deluge. That's a perfect word to describe this book.The fight for liberty is for equality, freedom, justice. Or isn't it? If we stop and look at the costs can this truly be what was fought for?Vivienne Rivard and Liam Delaney were on different sides of revolutions oceans apart. Who would dream the influence one would have on the other? So, when Vivienne arrives in America as a refugee, will she truly find the safeplace she's after? Or will a country deeply scarred by separatism, now between its own people, bring violence to Vivienne's life once again?The setting of this book is a world in madness. Countries that will never be what they once were or what they were expected to become. People grieving what was left behind, having to come to terms that their expectations might never be. There seems to be no time to take a breath, enjoy the peacefulness brought by ardently fought liberty. Injustice and persecution seem to never go away. Will there ever be a respite? And how can one finally find sanctuary with deception lurking at every corner?The author's craftsmanship was amaaaaazing! Truly, it was like I could feel every emotion, taste all the tavern's goodness, hear the wilderness surrounding Asylum.The plot is completely absorbing and realistic. It's gutwrenching and heartbreaking at times, but also solemn and pleasant as you see the faithfulness with which the characters take up a task and forgiveness being wound into lives tainted by loss and abandonment. The place Vienne expected to be her refuge will come with more surprises and responsibilities than she could ever imagine. But life is a made of choices, and justice and lawlessness, forgiveness and bitterness, anger and gentleness are not on the same side, one must choose where to stand. And Liam (oh endearing, even if slower-than-a-slug-to-notice Liam), alongside a young boy, a one-eyed man and a freed slave might just be with whom she'll finally figure out where refuge truly can be found. Or, better yet, in Who.*Many thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC. This is my honest review.

Hauntingly beautiful! Jocelyn Green delivers another riveting story with the skill of a master craftsman. She masterfully weaves the story of refugees from the French Revolution seeking asylum in Pennsylvania, as our young country struggles in its' infancy with such controversial events as the Whiskey Rebellion. While there is much historical detail, it never overshadowed the story. The author artistically pens images of early American life with words that appeals to all of the senses. I found Hauntingly beautiful! Jocelyn Green delivers another riveting story with the skill of a master craftsman. She masterfully weaves the story of refugees from the French Revolution seeking asylum in Pennsylvania, as our young country struggles in its' infancy with such controversial events as the Whiskey Rebellion. While there is much historical detail, it never overshadowed the story. The author artistically pens images of early American life with words that appeals to all of the senses. I found her characters to be endearing, in spite of their many flaws. This is a story filled with heart-breaking loss and triumph that rises above tragedy. It is a story of relationships and loyalties. It is a story of finding one's moral compass. It is a story of forgiveness. But most importantly, it is a story of finding home, family, a refuge....and knowing all along one can always find refuge and strength in God. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Why I Choose This Book: A few years ago I got pulled into the beauty of Miss Jocelyn's fantastically built historical settings and I've felt the same draw ever since. The stories aren't always my favorite, but the way she makes history come alive? I've been blown away by her writing time and time again. What I Thought: When I was twelve or so I read a book that took place during the French Revolution and was completely horrified. Like, crying for days and being unlike myself for a couple of mont Why I Choose This Book: A few years ago I got pulled into the beauty of Miss Jocelyn's fantastically built historical settings and I've felt the same draw ever since. The stories aren't always my favorite, but the way she makes history come alive? I've been blown away by her writing time and time again. What I Thought: When I was twelve or so I read a book that took place during the French Revolution and was completely horrified. Like, crying for days and being unlike myself for a couple of months. Looking back it's no wonder - I had no clue as a preteen that the Regine of Terror had existed, and there was no need for me to at that young age. But, because of that horrible experience I've avoided any and everything from that time period, except what I had to learn for school. And then this book came along. I didn't exactly pay attention to what it was about when I requested it for review, because come on, it's written by Jocelyn Green. This story, folks. This story had the exactly perfect balance between letting us know what happened during the French Revolution, and not going into too much detail. You can feel the sorrow, feel the frightened confusion, feel the horribleness of it all, and yet in a balanced, vague way that won't leave you in a depressed funk for days. In the space of about two weeks, I (totally unplanned) read three books that took place during this time period, and this book was by far my favorite. Miss Jocelyn makes history come alive in her stories and makes me feel like I'm there, watching from the sidelines. She also has this fantastic habit of picking settings/facts/people that aren't exceedingly well known, and therefore I've had so much fun researching what was true and what wasn't when I'm done reading the book, and I'm always surprised by how much of the setting/little details are true. As for the story and characters themselves? Well, they aren't generally my favorite for some reason; I think it's just because I don't really connect with them. That sadly takes my rating down, but I think a lot of other people would enjoy them far more than me and have a much higher rating. Conclusion: This book isn't one for little children - I would say probably sixteen would be the youngest I'd give this story to. The book talks about mistresses (but in a clean, vague way) and of course all the stuff that went on during the French Revolution. *I'm thankful to the publishers who sweetly gave me this book so I could review it

Full review on Faithfully BookishThe French Revolution... As much as I love learning new things through fiction, some of the historical events included in this story are simply shocking. How do people (even revolutionaries) justify things like guillotines?!!Fortunately, Vivienne Rivard makes her way out of France before she is sentenced for her "crime" of lace making. Vivienne is a strong, brave, and independent heroine. Her work ethic, determination, compassion, and authentic faith propel her t Full review on Faithfully BookishThe French Revolution... As much as I love learning new things through fiction, some of the historical events included in this story are simply shocking. How do people (even revolutionaries) justify things like guillotines?!!Fortunately, Vivienne Rivard makes her way out of France before she is sentenced for her "crime" of lace making. Vivienne is a strong, brave, and independent heroine. Her work ethic, determination, compassion, and authentic faith propel her through uncertain circumstances.Liam Delaney may not be financially rich but he possesses everything that matters. This militiaman is well versed in integrity, intellect, devotion, and hard work. Liam's ax and plow are just as sharp as his mind and his heart is his greatest strength.Don't misunderstand me, I want the grit of history! As a people, we need the three-dimensional historical truth and Green delivers in a fictional experience that far outshines any textbook or encyclopedia account. I highly recommend this story!I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Riveting and fascinating, I couldn’t put this down. I really enjoyed the historical setting of this story. The America during the Whiskey Rebellion and the plight of the French emigrés during France’s own revolution were brought to life in this book. This wasn’t light reading by any means, but it was gritty and compelling. I admired the MCs. The hard choices that both of them had to make clearly illustrated how grey areas abound in real life, no matter the time period. The MCs encouraged me to r Riveting and fascinating, I couldn’t put this down. I really enjoyed the historical setting of this story. The America during the Whiskey Rebellion and the plight of the French emigrés during France’s own revolution were brought to life in this book. This wasn’t light reading by any means, but it was gritty and compelling. I admired the MCs. The hard choices that both of them had to make clearly illustrated how grey areas abound in real life, no matter the time period. The MCs encouraged me to remember: all we can do is our best and leave the rest to God. The slow burn romance between the MCs was lovely and it made me want to hug my husband. Their love felt realistic and genuine, with mutual respect and admiration that stemmed from actually taking the time to get to know one another. How refreshingly old fashioned. Lol. I really enjoyed it.I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical and inspirational romance.

It's no coincidence this richly-detailed historical novel has mostly (if not all) five star reviews. As I read, I sat in wonder at how the author so deftly wove in elements of suspense, faith, and romance. I learned so much about the French Revolution and the Whiskey Rebellion with this novel, and it gave me a fresh view of characters like Alexander Hamilton. I liked the plucky main character Vivienne (something about her was so very French!) and I appreciated Liam Delaney's drive to have land o It's no coincidence this richly-detailed historical novel has mostly (if not all) five star reviews. As I read, I sat in wonder at how the author so deftly wove in elements of suspense, faith, and romance. I learned so much about the French Revolution and the Whiskey Rebellion with this novel, and it gave me a fresh view of characters like Alexander Hamilton. I liked the plucky main character Vivienne (something about her was so very French!) and I appreciated Liam Delaney's drive to have land of his own. Side characters were as well-developed as the main characters in this novel. This is a must-read for fans of Christian historical fiction!

Wow. Just wow. I'm a regular person that reads, then reviews from her gut reaction to books. A Refuge Assured leaves me searching for the right words to describe just how good it is. For starters, the history I learned from this book was just amazing. Yes, I learned a little bit about it in school ages ago but it was glossed over. In this book, I felt as if I was there watching it all play out. I did not know being a lacemaker was cause to lose your head during the French Revolution. To see how Wow. Just wow. I'm a regular person that reads, then reviews from her gut reaction to books. A Refuge Assured leaves me searching for the right words to describe just how good it is. For starters, the history I learned from this book was just amazing. Yes, I learned a little bit about it in school ages ago but it was glossed over. In this book, I felt as if I was there watching it all play out. I did not know being a lacemaker was cause to lose your head during the French Revolution. To see how Vivienne was able to care for her birth mother after the cruel death of the aunt that raised her was so touching. She was able to escape to America and put in situations that only the strongest of women could handle. Vienne learns to work as a baker and grows close to the family she works for. Particularly her bosses brother, Liam Delaney. She ends up caring for an orphaned boy, Henri, who some think may be young King Louis-Charles in hiding. This puts them both in great danger. The gentle romance between Liam and Vienne tugged at my heart. He helps her escape to Asylum the French town in Pennsylvania for refugees. A town that he helped build. He is in for a great disappointment when he arrives back at his farm on the outskirts of the town. I can't say anything else without giving spoilers. There's so much more to say though! I highly recommend this historical novel. It is full of richly drawn characters, drama, danger, intrigue, righting wrongs, forgiveness, and compassion. I know this is a work of fiction but the intensity and feeling are so real. I will be a Jocelyn Green fan for life.* I must thank Bethany House for a gift copy of this book. A review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.

This book was truly phenomenal, heart wrenching, and so well done! I tried to read this one slowly...to absorb everything that was written on the pages. Such a terrific story with loveable characters, an unusual setting, and ( my favorite part) a lot of obscure history! This book contains so much about the French Revolution and the French themselves. It also contains fascinating facts about the Whiskey Rebellion.The best way I could describe this book is SO FULL! Good reads to me are always the This book was truly phenomenal, heart wrenching, and so well done! I tried to read this one slowly...to absorb everything that was written on the pages. Such a terrific story with loveable characters, an unusual setting, and ( my favorite part) a lot of obscure history! This book contains so much about the French Revolution and the French themselves. It also contains fascinating facts about the Whiskey Rebellion.The best way I could describe this book is SO FULL! Good reads to me are always the hardest to review. The best words are contained in the book itself. I love a good story, and I love to learn. The reader gets both in this novel.Really and truly don’t miss out on this one..especially historical fiction fans!I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Due to this book being set after the American Revolution and during the French Revolution, there was a lot of descriptive war details. A lot of blood, killings, hangings, etc., were mentioned. This book is packed full of historical details, which made the pace seem slow at times. I felt the storyline could have moved a bit faster, but the ending moved along pretty well. I will admit that sometimes the historical details went over my head. There was just a ton of information presented, but some p Due to this book being set after the American Revolution and during the French Revolution, there was a lot of descriptive war details. A lot of blood, killings, hangings, etc., were mentioned. This book is packed full of historical details, which made the pace seem slow at times. I felt the storyline could have moved a bit faster, but the ending moved along pretty well. I will admit that sometimes the historical details went over my head. There was just a ton of information presented, but some people may find that more intriguing if they are into reading a book set in this time period. I didn’t like reading all of the bloody scenes. I felt it got to be a bit much. The author did a good job at describing the different settings in this story. I felt I could see exactly what the characters were seeing, which sometimes was a bad thing when the bloody parts took place. I did like most of the characters in this book. I loved how Henri became Vivienne’s main concern and she only cared about looking after him. I liked reading Henri’s point of view, since it brought an innocence to the story. Liam was a good character, as well, however I couldn’t really connect with his character. Sometimes he just seemed kind of boring to read about. I didn’t like reading Paulette’s point of view. I’ll talk more about that when I go over the negative content. All in all, the characters were decent in this book. My favorite character was Henri. Again, his character brought a child-like innocence to the story. The romance in this book was very minor at the start. Throughout the beginning and middle of the story, it mainly focused on Vivienne caring for Henri, which didn’t leave too much room for romance. Liam and Vivienne did obviously like each other, but their relationship didn’t grow until a little after halfway into the story. I actually loved that because it kept most of the story clean from any sexual content. They do end up having a heated kiss, but it doesn’t go beyond that and it was kept relatively clean. I liked that this book wasn’t just focused on the romance side of things and instead, went deeper into the other parts of the characters lives. The faith content was decent. There are prayers and scriptures mentioned. I liked how the characters wanted to seek God when trying to figure out the right thing to do. There is a priest in this book called Father Gilbert. I rather have had his character be called preacher or just Gilbert. The priest did say, “Thank the saints in Heaven”, once. Paulette doesn’t believe in God. **SPOILER** As she was dying, she asked if God would forgive her. So, she started to believe that God was real. **END OF SPOILER** Now, there is quite a bit of negative content. First off, like I’ve already mentioned, there is a ton of blood and killings in this book. It is set during the French Revolution and Whiskey Rebellion, though, which explains why there are killings mentioned. However, it did go into a lot of detail that was uncomfortable to read about. Vivienne’s mom was a mistress and it talks about her mom being with a man that was already married and who had kids. Vivienne does state that her mother’s way of life was sinful. I still didn’t like, though, that adultery was a main topic in the book since her father’s character is constantly present in the story. The whole story about Paulette being forced to bed with the man she worked with and becoming pregnant was really disturbing to read about. Especially, when it talked about her being forced to have an abortion. Another major disturbing thing was when Paulette’s character tried multiple times to kill Henri. The attempts were in her point of view and went into detail on her thoughts of killing him. One of my number one pet peeves is when a story mentions that a character cursed. That was stated quite a few times and was annoying. That was most of the negative content, but I’m sure I forgot to note some things. Overall, this story did teach me a lot about a time period I’m not too familiar with. I liked how one of the main characters was a child because honestly, I really only cared about what happened to Henri. His point of view was the cleanest. I did like how the characters mentioned God a pretty good bit. Sadly, the negative content takes over what I feel towards this story. I was disturbed by quite a few things. So, even though I was intrigued by most of the story, because of the negative content I have to rate this book as “leave it”. My Rating: Leave itLink to review: https://readitorleaveitblog.blogspot....**I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House) for this honest review.

A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green is an epic Christian historical novel that blends fact and fiction into a thrilling story that grips from the start.The action moves from revolutionary France to the shores of America. It is about a search for safety and to belong. Forever running and looking over one's shoulder is no way to live. America is fraught with difficulties as the search for Louis Charles continues there. No matter what we are running from or where we are running to, there is no safer A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green is an epic Christian historical novel that blends fact and fiction into a thrilling story that grips from the start.The action moves from revolutionary France to the shores of America. It is about a search for safety and to belong. Forever running and looking over one's shoulder is no way to live. America is fraught with difficulties as the search for Louis Charles continues there. No matter what we are running from or where we are running to, there is no safer place to be than in the arms of Jesus. He can be trusted and always hears us when we pray. "Trust that He hears you when you pray."Parenting is another major theme. We cannot choose our earthly parents but we can choose God, Our Father who longs to know and love us. He is waiting for us to say yes to Him. He lovingly pursues us. This is mirrored within the story as an earthly father can be seen as a motif for God's pursuit of us. He runs after his child, against all the odds. Rejection after rejection but still he desires the love of his child. And this too is the Father's heart for us. He pursues us relentlessly and will not let us go. Forever looking out for our welfare, whether we realise it or not.The sins of the parents do not pass to the next generation. "You're not stained by the sins of your parents." Neither are we destined to repeat them.Fear and distrust are prevalent in times of war. America was flooded by those escaping revolutionary France. There were those too who would not let the distance stop them from pursuing and killing those they believed to be the aristocracy. There were good people too. "Women intent on making a difference, one person at a time." We are called to notice others and to "be instruments of grace in" their lives. In times of trouble, people band together and help where they can.The characters were comprehensively drawn. They were likable and wove their way into my heart. I cared what happened to them. Real historical figures interacted with fictional ones.I was educated too in the facts of the French Revolution - how ordinary people had their lives and livelihoods disrupted. Fleeing to America did not necessarily bring safety as some were still hunted down. America was recovering from war with the British and French.A Refuge Assured was a fabulous read. It entertained, educated and horrified. Minute detail bumped up against the bigger picture to produce a cracking story. A Refuge Assured is a meaty read to really get your teeth into. I loved it.I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

"So when we create, even if it is a mere length of lace and not the stars in the heavens, we honor Him. We bear His likeness when we work."And so, French lace makers Vivienne Rivard and her Tante Rose, worked tirelessly to create the exquisite lace that graced the clothing and furnishings of the queen herself, until a violent revolution separates them forever. Fleeing France, Vivienne boards a ship bound for America and determines to re-establish herself in Philadelphia where the French Quarter "So when we create, even if it is a mere length of lace and not the stars in the heavens, we honor Him. We bear His likeness when we work."And so, French lace makers Vivienne Rivard and her Tante Rose, worked tirelessly to create the exquisite lace that graced the clothing and furnishings of the queen herself, until a violent revolution separates them forever. Fleeing France, Vivienne boards a ship bound for America and determines to re-establish herself in Philadelphia where the French Quarter is seething with opinions about the fallen monarchy, unsettling Vivienne's peace of mind about her new home. Liam Delaney is a patriot of the American Revolution and travels to Philadelphia regularly from his farm in Asylum, stopping to visit his sister at their family's Four Winds Tavern. He cannot help but notice the lovely young woman whom he met briefly at a local ball, but who is now accepting his assistance after an unruly parade crowd injures her escort. Learning about her newly acquired skills in the kitchen, Liam's sister hires Vivienne as the tavern's baker, providing her with much needed income to support herself and the young child she has become responsible for.As rebellion swirls around an exorbitant whiskey tax, and continued violence causes Vivienne to worry about the mistaken identity of her ward, she is desperate to find a place of refuge. In spite of the fact that she and Liam have politely sparred about the merits of revolution, when lives are at stake will Vivienne concede that Liam is a man to be trusted?"A Refuge Assured" is a magnificent display of history, expertly knitted into the fabric of a story whose characters are full of courage, intelligence, loyalty and compassion; making them totally unforgettable and fondly remembered. I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

If you’re a fan (as I am) of historical fiction, then you need this book. 🙂 The story takes you back in time to a young America and the growth pains the country faced during that time. I can’t imagine living back then, but this book did a great job painting a picture of what life was like. With a perfect balance of historical details and emotion, A Refuge Assured captured my full attention.Life is hard for our heroine and hero, but their difficult pasts make them stronger. It blessed my heart to If you’re a fan (as I am) of historical fiction, then you need this book. 🙂 The story takes you back in time to a young America and the growth pains the country faced during that time. I can’t imagine living back then, but this book did a great job painting a picture of what life was like. With a perfect balance of historical details and emotion, A Refuge Assured captured my full attention.Life is hard for our heroine and hero, but their difficult pasts make them stronger. It blessed my heart to watch them grow throughout the story and learn to open their hearts again. It’s not an easy road, but it’s worth the journey.Liam is such a noble leading man and Vivienne is one of those heroines I longed to see find her happily-ever-after. I was cheering for them both from the first to last page. They’re kind, caring, hard-working characters you can’t help but love.I also appreciated the well-crafted setting, the realistic secondary characters with equal flaws and strengths, and the spot-on dialogue. I learned as I read and closed the book intrigued to learn more about this fascinating time period. And just when I thought the story was wrapping up, a few twists added some wonderful extra layers.I’m always amazed by this author’s writing ability and research. I’m grateful for her attention to detail and look forward to reading more of her books.I received a copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

Whoa! This was a historically eye-opening read for me. I knew next to nothing about most of the history in this novel. (Be kind and keep in mind that I'm not American.) To go from the French Revolution to the upheaval of a new country -- breath-snatching and gobsmacking doesn't begin to cover it. I mean, who knew that French aristocrats escaped to Philadelphia? Seriously, Philadelphia? And the decisions that Washington and Hamilton made -- well, I've only heard their 'hero' stories so that was s Whoa! This was a historically eye-opening read for me. I knew next to nothing about most of the history in this novel. (Be kind and keep in mind that I'm not American.) To go from the French Revolution to the upheaval of a new country -- breath-snatching and gobsmacking doesn't begin to cover it. I mean, who knew that French aristocrats escaped to Philadelphia? Seriously, Philadelphia? And the decisions that Washington and Hamilton made -- well, I've only heard their 'hero' stories so that was startling...and infuriating. And a whiskey tax? I had no idea! Hair-raising stuff!So, with all that for a backdrop you can just imagine how riveting A Refuge Assured is. Rich, decadent prose, compelling characters and a plot that never lets up. Honestly, not just twists and turns on the road to a happily ever after but complete u-turns that made a nail-biter out of me.And can we pause for a moment to swoon over our rough-and-tumble-but-oh-so-noble Irish hero? Serious fainting couch material but does Green ever make him work for his just rewards. :-) Hard. My heart felt like a yoyo for all the dips and dives and loop-de-loops it did. My rib cage is still tender from all that pummeling. And Vivienne's personal journey is just as tumultuous!An emotional blockbluster of a read!